"I only lifted my ass and half of the bunch was screaming my name that I was going" - No chance for Thymen Arensman to enter Giro d'Italia breakaways

Thymen Arensman had a very difficult start to the Giro d'Italia but he is 'back', according to his own words. The Dutch rider looked back to his best in the Prati di Tivo summit finish and played a role in the conservative final climb.

“Everybody in the team kept believing in me and they were right, I’m back," Arensman said in words to GCN. “I just had two bad days in the beginning and now I am back, the team always kept believing in me and it paid off."

INEOS Grenadiers had an aggressive strategy for the day planned, with a few riders joining the day's breakaway: “We had Johnny [Narváez] and Magnus [Sheffield] in the break, we wanted to have two guys in the break and then if it was really carnage and full gas then I could have a look."

Part of the plan was also to launch Arensman on an attack but it didn't quite work out, as it turned out he was being heavily marked: "But I only lifted my ass and half of the bunch was screaming my name that I was going. It’s good to know, I will take it as a compliment I guess." Hence he remained in the peloton, ultimately crossing the line in eighth place, 11 seconds down on uncontested stage winner Tadej Pogacar.

“UAE kept it really close, chapeau to them, they were strong. We knew that it was for the GC favourites for the stage and I feel better and better, so it was nice to be in the mix and be there with G (Geraint Thomas, ed.)," he added. "I missed a bit on the punch to the line but I know that for myself and I will only get better I guess.”

“We are still here to win the race, you know everything can happen, the Giro is long. So a podium is nice but I think we’re here just to win the race, so I am happy to sacrifice my GC for G to win, for example.”